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\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nThe Alberta separation debate was on the agenda at Edmonton city council Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack put forward a policy motion in support of Alberta remaining in Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish this motion didn\u2019t have to happen,\u201d Mayor Knack said. \u201cIt feels a little bit odd that we\u2019re having this conversation. But at the end of the day, I do think it\u2019s important that council provide clear direction that this is important to our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
This October, Albertans will vote on whether they think the province should remain part of the country and begin the legal process for a separation referendum.<\/p>\n
Mayor Knack told reporters he believes any conversation about Alberta separating from Canada is harmful.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy being complacent, by sitting back and letting others vote, we don\u2019t send the clear message that we need to send to the business community, we need to send to people who live here, we need to send to the broader world that we\u2019re going to continue to work hard to support this country.\u201d<\/p>\n
This comes as Elections Canada begins officially verifying a pro-Alberta independence petition.<\/p>\n
\u2018More inclined to celebrate national unity\u2019<\/p>\n
As politicians at all levels weigh into the debate, federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says he wants Alberta to stay in Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlbertans are proud to be Canadians,\u201d Poilievre said in an interview with CityNews\u2019 sister station OMNI Television. \u201cBut I think we could be even more united if the biggest industry in the province was able to prosper with the federal government off its back and out of its way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poilievre says new federal policies could ease separatist concerns, but Alberta needs results.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need pipelines approved, carbon tax eliminated, a strong resource economy that blossoms and grows, and I think if Albertans get the sense that those ideas are proceeding, that they\u2019ll be more inclined to celebrate national unity,\u201d the Conservative leader said.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tEdmonton Mayor Andrew Knack speaking to reporters on Nov. 21, 2025 (Darcy Ropchan, CityNews) <\/p>\n
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